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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 10362958" data-attributes="member: 92282"><img src="http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00655/TH_AVD_SHIV_SHANKAR_655277f.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Seeking a “quick” solution to Sri Lanka’s drawn out  ethnic conflict, India on Saturday pressed the Mahinda Rajapaksa  government to come to a “political arrangement” with the minority  Tamils.“The quicker the Sri Lankan government can  come to a political arrangement (with Tamils) the better,” National  Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon said after his talks with President  Rajapaksa along with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence  Secretary Pradeep Kumar.Sri Lanka had already  pledged to improve on the 13th amendment, the 1987 constitutional  provision which seeks to grant regional autonomy, as a political  solution, Mr. Menon said, addressing Colombo-based Indian reporters.The  controversial 1987 amendment was a result of the Indo-Lanka peace  accord which sought, but failed to end Tamil separatism in the island.Mr.  Menon maintained that Sri Lanka has already pledged to improve on the  constitutional amendment and hoped they would implement it.Mr.  Menon along with Ms. Rao and Mr. Kumar opened closed-door talks with  Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris soon after arriving in Colombo on Friday  and had a breakfast meet with Mr. Rajapaksa on Saturday morning.Tamil Nadu Assembly resolutionAfter  spending about two hours with Mr. Rajapaksa, they also met with Tamil  political leaders before leaving the island. The visit took place  against the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu Assembly passing a resolution  demanding imposition of economic sanctions against Colombo.Mr. Menon said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s recent remarks did not figure in their talks.“The  Sri Lankan government has said that they will directly deal with the  centre,” Mr. Menon said playing down the resolution factor.He had met with the Chief Minister just before arriving in Sri Lanka.During  their visit, the Indian officials also met Sri Lanka’s Defence  Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and President’s Secretary Lalith  Weeratunga.Fishermen issueMr.  Menon said they discussed the issue of fishermen of both countries  straying into each others’ territory and noted that fishermen’s  associations were in contact with each other to resolve differences.He said did not touch on the human rights issues raised by India last month when Mr. Peiris had visited New Delhi.New  Delhi had called for “genuine reconciliation” and urged Sri Lanka to  investigate alleged human rights abuses, a demand made by the West as  well as the United nations.Earlier, Bandula  Jayasekera, the Sri Lankan presidential spokesman, said Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh has accepted Mr. Rajapaksa’s invitation to visit Sri  Lanka.Mr. Menon handed over a letter of acceptance of Mr. Rajapaksa’a offer by Dr. Singh, he said.<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2096146.ece" target="_blank">PTI</a></blockquote>

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